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Kiambu Mall promises to change the dwindling fortunes of the town. PHOTO | ERIC WAINAINA | NMG
Kiambu begins to wake up from long slumber
Despite its proximity to Kenya’s capital city, Kiambu — one of the oldest towns in the country — continues to lag behind others in development.
Unlike Thika, Kikuyu, Ruaka, Ruiru and other towns in the region, Kiambu does not have modern buildings and roads.
Kiambu, which is just 17 kilometres from the city centre, is characterised by old buildings, most doubling as commercial and residential houses.
This has robbed the town of its sheen, betraying Kiambu’s famous name and the wealth it possesses.
The town’s old section, known as the Indian Bazaar, has stagnated and only got a lifeline when the State built a link road through it and public service vehicles were ordered to use it recently.
Kiambu remains a street town, often characterised by traffic jams, with no room for expansion, thanks to poor infrastructure and planning.